Jurgen Klopp believes critics were too quick to judge new Premier League strikers Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez, marking the latter as a “suitable striker” ahead of his Liverpool home debut.
Last week, Nunez came off the bench to score one and set up another in the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season – with the Uruguayan looking to add to his tally on Monday Night Football. The clash with Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports.
But Klopp believes too much was done in Nunez’s first pre-season game, Liverpool’s 4-0 loss against Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United in Bangkok, with the Reds striker missing a big chance in particular.
“Five weeks ago, when we started pre-season and he played his first game and he didn’t look great from the outside world,” Klopp told Saturday Soccer reporter Bianca Westwood. “Not for us, but it’s crazy how quickly we judge people…wow!
“Imagine if someone did that to us and said, ‘First day on the job, it didn’t go well. Go home, we don’t want to see you again! And by the way, you won’t get a second chance’ – we’d all be gone a long time ago! No chance.
“Now everyone sees: ‘Ah, he’s a proper striker’ – he’s so good for us and so good for him. He’s a handful and he’s a different type to what we had. He’s very lively and very energetic. He’s very strong physically and technically. He’s really good. , which of course goes hand in hand with being more settled and confident and secure in a new environment.
“You can’t say, ‘Well, you’ve got to give me 100 per cent straight away’ – you’ve got to develop it and that’s what we’re doing at the moment and in a good way.”
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The Liverpool manager also believes Manchester City forward Haaland received similar treatment when Pep Guardiola’s side lost their Community Shield clash with Klopp’s side earlier this month.
The Norwegian striker has scored two goals and set up one in his first two Premier League games for City.
“It’s also funny, the week before the season we won against Manchester City and everyone was asking: ‘Will Haaland get this and that?'” added Klopp. “A week is like 10 years in football!”
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Thiago Alcantara has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury during the 2-2 draw with Fulham.
Liverpool were without fellow midfielders Naby Keita, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain due to injury and illness, although Keita will feature against Palace.
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Klopp, however, has ruled out the club dipping into the transfer market for midfield reinforcements.
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